Steering-knuckle lubrication



Feb. 25, 193@ y TQR. THOMAS fkllm- STEERING 4mnJcKIr, .El'LUBRICATIONoriginal Filed sept. 28, 1925 s sneetisfsheet Feb. 25, 193,0 T. R;'THOMAS A 1,748,924

STEERING KNUCKLE LUBRICATI ON origlnal Filed'sept. y28, 1925 3sheets-sheet 3 Patented Feb. 25, 1930 UNITED STATES raranr QFFI'CE iTHOMAS R. THOMAS, OF NEWARK, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR TO AUTO- RESEAIR/CR`CORPORATION, A CORPORATION OF `D'ELAWARE srEEame-nNUcKLE, LUBRICATINApp1ica-t'ionv filed September 28, 1925, Serial No. 59,002. RenewedApril 29, 1929.

My present invention is concerned with gravity flow systems ofthe-general type .def scribed in the British patent to Joseph Bi]ur,

- No. 254,655, and-in common with said British patent has a preferredapplicationin association with pressure lubricating systems,moreparticularly for delivering lubricant by gravity flow from a pressureline to the bearing or bearings of a structure having a swiveled orother movable connection to the structure carrying the pressure line,-and especially where it is undesirable to convey the lubricant underpressure past or across such swivel or other connection.

The invention has a preferred application to the lubrication of thesteering knuckles of a motor vehicle'and in common with that of saidBritish patent, the' broad object of delivering lubricant reliably tovarious knuckle bearings, and without the need for `selectivemanipulation, nor the use of auxiliary swivels or of flapping con-duitsor otherI parts likely to become damaged in use, or

theentry of dust to thebearing' surfaces.

l Among the more specific objects of the invention are to apply alubricating installa,-

tion of the character set forth to an axle and rangement in which thelubricant inlet for the knuckle is fixed neither'directly into the axlenor into the knuckle, but disposed adjacent the king pin or otherknuckle pivot axis on a suitable sustaining member therefor lodged in aspace between the knuckle and the axle and keyed to the latter. A

In a preferred embodiment of the inven- A tion, I substitute for theusual knuckle thrust bearing, one of the same contour, comprising athrust disk on the knuckle and a thrust block of greater thickness rigidwith the axle.

The lubricant from'the axle is admitted through the thrust blockfixedthereto, whence it passes to the knuckle bearings; y In one ernbodiment,the lubricant admitted through the thrust block is delivered upwardthrough a corresponding passage' carried as a rigid part of the 'axle'to the` upper end of the knuckle, y

whence the lubricant flows by gravity down- Ward along the structure vofthe knuckle through," corresponding conduits to the knuckle bearings tobe lubricated.

In another embodiment, some of the lubricant from the thrust block isfeddownward preferably through the thrust disk to the knuckleconstruction for'lubricating the lowermost bearing or bearings carriedon' the knuckle. Y The lubricant inlet may be a single drip plug orinlet fitting for supplying 1u bricant to all of the bearings or two ormore such drip plugs may be provided in the thrust block, each conveyinglubricant through separate and distinct conduits to ldifferent bearingsof the knuckle.

are shown one or more of various possible embodiments of the severalfeatures ofthe invention,

Fig. 1 is a side view partly in section of l one embodiment oflubricated knuckle,

Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional view taken along the line 2 2 of Fig.1,

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken along the line 3 3 of Fig. 1,

Fig. l is a view similar to Fig. 1 of another embodiment, F ig. 5 is afragmentary sectional detail view of the lower end' of Fig. 41,'takenalong the ling 5 5 of Fig. 6, Fig. 6 is a sectional view taken along theline 6 6 of Fig. 4:,

Fig. 7 is a view similar to otherembodiment, and; a Fig. 8 is atransverse sectional lalong the line 8 8 of Fig. ,7. l

vReferring now to Figs. Lto 3 of the drawings, I have shown an aXle beam10, through the eye of which extends a king pin 11 secured thereto bycross key 12 and bearing at its ends in bushings 13 and 14 in clevisjaws 15 and 16 respectively of 'the knuckle 17. Clevis jaw 16 is closedat its lower endby a Fig. 1 of anplug 59 below the lower end of the kingpin, said plug having a screw plug 59a therein removable to permitaccess to the lower end of the king pin for pushing out the latter.

ln the conventional construction thus far de.

scribed, the eye oi the beam is of a length substantially less than thedistance between the clevis aws of the knuckle to provide space for athrust bearing interposed between the lower clevis jaw and the lower.end of the eye of the axle beam.

' In the present embodiment, I have substitilted for the usual ballthrust bearing, a

thrust bearing construction of corresponding external configuration, butot the plate type 'which comprises a disk 18 resting on the lowrr clevisjaw and having a. pin 19 fixed there-v in directed downward into acorresponding opening in the clevis jaw to maintain the disk trenirocking therewith and mad'e hollow for a purpose which will a pearhereinafter. Upon vthe disk is a thrust iilock 20 of greater thickness,provided with a radial groove 2l" in the upper face thereof, into whichextends fi pin 2l press-fitted into a corresponding depression in thelower face oi' the axle beam and serving to key the thrust-block to theaxle beam. The thrust disk and the thrust block determine .a thrustbearing surface therebetween from which dust is effectively excluded byan integral skirt 22 on thepblock, snugly encircling a substantial partof the thickness of the disk 18.

The thrust block is here employed also for admission of lubricant to thebearings, pret erably from a centralized lubricating system on themotorvehicle, which simultaneously serves a multiplicity of chassisbearings thereon. F or this urpose, l have shown the thrust block provi(ed with a unitary lateral extension socket 23 thereon protruding towardthe axle beam. lAn appropriate inlet fitting such as a drip plug 24of'the type shown in the copending application of Edward H. Kocher,Serial No. 22,104, iiled April 10th, 1925, may be provided in the socketand fed from the central source of pressure. The

socket communicates with a port 25 radially annular gasket 28 isdisposed in a countersink in the inner end of the bore^25 in the thrustblock and said thrust block is split into the two' segments 20 and 2()2tightly clamped. together by screws 29 to cause said segments to iirmlygrip the king in and thereby to tightly compress the gas ret into thesocket and against the ikingp' l or; moreeec'tive the region of thewhich isthus not distorted out of its plane butmerely com#v pressed inthe assembly. "The gasket will, ae-

Lubricant that has passed-the upper endA 'I ol the king pin bore spreadsin the cavity 35 thereabove, which is sealed by the cap 36 on seep`between'the king pin and-the bushing 13 to lubricant that bearing, therest passing about lthe beveled upper edge 37 of the busliing fortransmission to the drag link bearing 38. For this purpose, afshort tube39 is fric tion-iitted into an oblique bore 40 in th'eupper knuckleclevis and al pipe 41 frictionfitted over the protruding end of saidtube eX- tends downward therefrom toand along the drag link-arm 42 tothe eye` 43 `oithecorresponding bearing, from which the lubricant passeson byway of radial bore 44 and Alon tudinal bore 45 in the ball studthereof or emission at radial bores 46 of the ball thereof to thecorresponding bearing. tions the ball stud 38 to maintain vbore 44aligned with pipe 41. As in the disclosure of the prior British patentof Bijur above referred to, the internal diameter of the pipe 41 down toat least the level of the ball outlet, is sufliciently large as appearsat 41', to per# mit passage ot lubricant about any air there l in.thereby precludig airf.blocking,the conduit below said levelizin whicl'ilubricant becomes trapped since itiezitends below the outlet 46 being.if desired, o smaller diameter, as shown. V

The tie rod bearing 47 pin bearing 14 are also supplied with'lubricantfrom the inlet fitting 24. For this. ,pur-- pose, a bore 48 along achord of the circular thrust block intersectsthe radial bore 25, saidbore being of larger diameter as at 49 at its outer end, and of reduceddiameter at its inner end. A restriction pin 50 prefer ably extends intobore 48, affording a clear-r ance that will reasonably limit the flow oflubricant therethrough, and thus assure reasonabledivision, said pinbeing maintained in place in the bore by a plug 51 friction-litted intothe outer end of the larger bore 49 and closing said outer end.

The enlarged bore 49l communicates through a bore 52 therebelow with thethrust i and the lower Vkin'g 'I0 cordingly, be effectively compressedwithout 1 85 the knuckle and such lubricant will in part 'f l bearingsurface between the block 2O and the disk 18, lubricant through saidlatter bor-e being intercepted by an annular groove 53 at the thrustbearing face of the disk 18,- from which someoil will spread tolubricate said tlirust face.' The pin 19 that retains the disk 18 fastwith the knuckle, is a'short'tube as shown, soas to deliver lubricantfrom the annular groove 58 into a longitudinal bore' 54 inthe lowerclevis jaw of the knuckle, which is plugged at its lower end at55. ,Apipe 56 is secured by an appropriate terminal 57 tothev knuckle, saidpipe extending generally along the structure of the knuckle' lor Aalongthe tie rod arm and delivering to the taper-fitted surface'58 of the tierod ball stud 47 which may be provided with 4a system of bores (notshown) similar to that of the drag link bearing. Immediately above theplug 59 a small port 60 is bored to establish communication between thebore 54 and the small well 61 between `the lower end of the king pin andthe plug 59.

In operation, when pressure is. applied at the source not shown)'lubricant admitted to the control tting 24 willv divide in a substanveotially predeterminedl ratio, part passing. throiigL-'i'the restrictedoutlet determined by pin 50, the latter offering suiiicientresistance tomaintain a residual'pressure.effective to crack the check valve 33 0Hits seat and admit some of 'the lubricant into-the longitudinal king pinbore 27. Lubricant is normally stored in said ore since itcannot returnpast the .check val e 33, so that as lubricant is admitted at the lowerend of bore 27, some will overfiow from the upper end thereof, whichwillflow in part between the king pinv and the bushing 13 to lubricatethe corresponding bearing surface and in part about the beveled end 37of the bushing 13 to drain into the .pipe LLIU- 41, for supplying thedrag link bearing inmanner, in part described above and 'more fully setforth in the aforementioncd British patent of Joseph Bijur. Suchlubricantes has passed the restricted outlet 50,wili flow through port52 into groove 53, from which some will spread to lubricate thethrust'bea ring. Lubricant from port 52 will also pass into tube 19 andbore 54, the lubricant yfrom bore 54 passing through port 60 andmaintaining a common level in the bore and about the lower end of theking pin.4 Lubricant 'at the level of the terminal 57 will ing supp"taf" n a jack. Screws 29 are now either loc.` bushing 20 Will relievepressure on the king pin, which may now be driven out of place. Theknuckle 17 can then be slipped off the axle, in which operation thethrust bearing 182O is carried as a unit with it, sincefthe tube 19anchors the disk 18 to the knuckle. The skirt 22 prevents lateralseparation -of block 2O from disk 18, and the notch 21 permits freemovement of block 20 past pin 21. Y The thrust bearing can thenl bereadily separated into its constituent par-ts. For assembly, Athe'orderof steps set Iforth is reversed. y

In Figs. 4,5 and 6 is shown an embodiment having many features ofsimilarity with that j ust described, anddift'eringlargely in that thethrust block 65 'is provided with two integral nipples 66 andj67, eachof which servesforvmounting a flow controlling inlet fitting such as adrip plug, the outline of one of 'which' is shown at 68. The nipple...ed or removed, so that the split 66 is arranged to supply lubricantto'the upper king pin bearing by a construction and arrangementidentical with that shown in Fig. 1 and above described, except that inthis embodiment, the check valve 33 is omitted. Corresponding parts areindicated by the same reference numerals as in Fig. 1, primed. The inletfitting in vsocket 67 supplies lubricant to the thrust bearing, to the llower king pin'and tothe tie rod bearings. The socket 67 to this end isprovided with a cavity '69 of reduced diameter therebeyond,communicating with a vertical bore 7 0 leading to the thrust face of thethrust block,

which, in turn, communicates with a slot 71 in. the thrust disk 72, saidslot made arcuate so as toregister with the bore 70 in alltions of theknuckle. The sl'ot 71 communicates with a bore 54 in the knuckle,fromwhich the lower king pin bearing and the tie rod bearing aresupplied in a manner identical with thatof Fig. 1, corresponding parts.beingdesignated bythe same reference numerals primed.

posi- While in the embodiment ofFig. 1',.the l check valve 33.is'provided to' preclude drain ing of the king pin bore through there'stric tion passage about pin 50, this is eliminated 1n the embodimentof Figs. 4, 54 and 6, since the lower bearings supplied by the drip plug1n socket 67 are entirely free from any communlcation with the king-pinbore 27 and the relief valve provided as a part of each of the.drip'plug fittings in the sockets 66 andy 67 will act as a check valvetoprevent such flow return.

In Figs. 7 and 8, is shown'another embodiment more particularly ,used inconnection ,with anI Elliott axle, that is, an axle-in which the clevis]aws 75 and 76 are a part of the a Xl e beam, and in 'which the king pin77 is rigidly secured to the knuckle 78, the ends of the king pinbearing. in corresponding bushings7 9 and 80, rigidly-affixed in therespective axle clevis aws. I have in this em# bodiment also shown aconstruction of sub-- stantially conventional design, in vwhich space isaiforded for a ball thrust bearing, which I replace by a plate thrustbearing as in the embodiment ot' Fig. 1, consisting of a disk 81 restingon the knuckle and keyed thereto by a pin 82 in a correspondingdepression in the knuckle and a coacting thrustblock 83 keyed by a pin84.- ixed in the axle clevis jaw 7 5v and 'extending into radial groove84 in the thrust block, substantially as in thev other embodiments.' Theblock is of construction identical with that previously described, butis clamped about the upper bushing 79 which is a rigid part of the axle,rather than about the king pin, which in this construction, pivots withthe knuckle. The arrangement of liquid-tight gasket 85 is similar tothat previously described, except that it eects a tight joint to a bore86 longitudinally through the'upper bushing, which bushing is made ofsufficient thickness to accommodate such bore. The king pin is formedwith a trough 87 at its upper end and has a longitudinal bore88extending part of the length thereof. The king pin bore deliverslubricant to one of the knuckle control bearings, in this instance,illustratively the drag link. For

. this purpose, I have illustratively shown a special form of king pinlocking key 89, which serves also as a duct for lubricant from the kingpin to be admitted to the drag link. The key 89 in this instance, isformed as a v plug, threaded into the knuckle, and having a beveled end90 taper-fitted into a corresponding socket in the king pin. The plug 89is formed with a longitudinal bore 91 and bushing 92 is threaded intothe outer endA bore in all positions of steering adjustment of theknuckle. The hole 97 communicates with Va short bore 98 alignedtherewith, in the knuckle 78, which bore drains through a compressioncoupling terminal 99 similar to terminal 92-92, into a pipe 100extending` along the Iknuckle structure and delivering into the tie rodpivot stud 95. The construction of bores through the tie rod `and draglink pivot studs are identical with that shown in Fig. 1 and are,therefore, not shown in Fig. 7.

f control bearing Inasmuch as the king pin locking plug is shown at alevel no higher than that of the drag link bearing, the entire length ofconduit 93 connected therebetween may be ofsmall diameter, the king pinbore 88 being of rel-A atively large diameter to permit the flow oflubricant therethrough about any air therein, thereby precluding airblocking.

The k'ng pin is preferably provided with a fiat 101 along a ysubstantialpart. of the length thereof through which lubricant can drain from thebushing 79 to lubricate the lower bushing 80.

In operation, lubricant admitted past thev i drip plug 68 which is rigidwith the axle,

will rise through bore 8G to the upper endv of bushing 79. Some of thelubricant will,

drain into the trough 87 and through bore 88 into bore V91 in the lockplug 89, thence through conduit 93 to supply the drag link bearing 94./Lubricant will also flow through groove 96 downward along the upperbushing, part escaping through the minute space between the bushing andthe disk to spread along the thrust bearing surface, between disk 81 andblock 83, vand along flat 101to the bearing of the lower bushing 80, therest passing through aperture 97 into knuckle bore 98 and thence by wayof terminal 99.

into pipe 100 to supply the tie rod bearing.

The kingpin being inclined, as shown, trough 87 is made to protrudeabove the bushing 79, to assure correctness of division between bore 88and groove 96, the upper end of said groove being at substantially thesame level as the iight or lowest part of the outer rim of trough 87. Itis found that sufficiently accurate division of lubricant is obtained bythe vconstruction described, but if desired, the

bores of one orboth of the conduit lines 93 and may have restrictionpins therein similar to that shown at 50 in Fig. 1, to limit thelubricant delivered therethrough.

VThe specific subject matter of Figs. 4 to 8 is claimed in a divisionalapplication Se rial No. 369,398 iiled June 8, 1929.

In all of the embodiments disclosed, it will be noted that the lubricantinlet for the knuckle, is afiixed on a sustaining niember therefor,disposed adjacent the king pin, lodged in a space between the knuckleand the axle, and keyed tothe latter. ably the sustaining member servesalso as a thrust bearing block, as shown.

' In certain of the claims, I use the term as applying to one of thebearingsfof the knuckle. This term delines generically any of thebearings at the knuckle .by which an operating adjustment on the-Prefer- 5 vor more of the knuckle bearings.

2. In a motor vehicle, in combination, an

' axle, a knuckle having a pivotal mount thereat, a control bearingrigid with said knuckle,

a thrust bearing sustaining said axle upon said knuckle. and including amember rigid with the axle, means for supplying lubricant to vsaidcontrol bearing, said means comprising an inlet litt-ing carried byfsaidthrust bearing membei' beyond the bearing surface thereof, and apassageway within parts of the structure rigid with the. axle, leadingupward from the thrust bearing, said knuckle carrying a conduit rigidtherewith in flow intercepting relationshp with respect-to the lubricanttransmitted through said passageway, saidconduit leading along thestructure of the knuckle to said control bearing.

8. In a motorvehicle of thetype including an axle and a knuckle, one ofsaid members having a clevis straddling the other, anda king pinaffording a bearing with respect to the clevis and rigid with thestraddled inember, the jaws of said clevis being spaced by a distancegreater than the width of the straddled member to vafford room for athrust bearing;l the combination therewith of a* thrust bearingcomprising a pair of coacting members, one rigid with the knuckle andthe other rigid with the axle, the latter member having substantialthickness, lubricant inlet means affixed laterally 1 in said lattermember, a longitudinal passagewai7 extending from .said inlet fittingupward through parts rigid with said axle and a pipe carried by'saidknuckle and in flow intercepting ref lationship with respect tolubricant through .said passageway, said pipe leading along theseructure of the knuckle to a bearing thereo 4. In asteering axle of thetype including a-beam, a knuckle coacting with the end thereof, one ofsaid members having a clevis straddling the other, a king pin rigid withthe straddled member and. a ll'ording a bearing surface at the en dsthereof for the knucklel member, the clevis jawsbeing spaced by adistance materially greater than the interposed length of the straddlcdmember, to afford room for a thrustbcaring; the combination therewith ofa thrust bearing including a bearing block rigid with the axle, saidblock having an annular lip encircling the thrust bearing face, torender the construction substantially dust-tight, a lubricant inletfitting aflixed to the lateral facel of 'said block, a passageway instructure rigid with said axle terminating near the upper end of thev,knuckle and aco'ncluit carried by the knuckle leading to one of thebearings thereof, and in flow intercepting relationship with the upperend of said passageway. 5. In a steering axle of the type includingthereof, one of said members having a clevisl straddliiig the other, aking pin rigid with a beam, a knuckle coacting with they end thestraddled member and affording a bear-f' ing surface at the ends thereoffor the knuckle'` member, the clevis jaws being spaced by af distancelmaterially greater than the interposed length of the straddled member,to af-; ford room for a thrust bearing; the comb'ination therewith of athrust bearing including a plate rigid with the knuckle, a split4 thrustbearing block, screws drawing the split parts together against a.partrigid with the axle, said block having anv annular lip encirclingthe plate to render the bearing face substantially dust-tight, alubricant inlet fitting afiixed in the lateral surface of said block,and having a radial inlet passage for entry of lubricant, and a gasketaboutthe inlet passage and at the inner end thereof, thus compressedagainst said axle parts, apassageway `in structure rigid with said axle,communicating with said inlet passage and ter-` minating near the upperend 'of t ie knuckle and a conduit carried by the knuckle leading toonev of the bearingslgthereof, and in flow intercepting relationshipwith the upper end of said passageway. y

6. As an article of manufacture, alubricated thrust bearing for asteering knuckle,

said thrust bearing comprising a split cyliiii drical block having asocket inthe lateral surface thereof for a lubricant inlet tting andhaving an annular compressible gasket in a corresponding countersink atthe inner end of a radial bore therethrough, screws holding the twosegments of the blo-ck together,

an annular skirt at the lower end of said bearing block and an annularbearingdisk fitting into'said skirt, said block vand said disk havingeach a keying means for coaction with the corresponding -axle andknuckle members in the assembled construction; 7. In motor vehicle, incombination, an axle, a knuckle having a pivot mount with respectthereto, one of said members having a clevis, a thrust bearing betweenone of thejaws of said clevis and the other member, said thrust ,bearingincluding a thrust disk fis keyed to the kn n ckle and a coating thrustblock keyed with respect to the axle, means-for conveying lubricant fromthe axle to the pivoted knuckle, said means comprising a lubricant inletfitting in the thrust block, a passageway from said fitting throughparts rigid with .said block delivering to the thrust bearing surface ofsaid block and re istcring with a port in the bearing disk, said portdelivering in turn into abore in the corresponding face ofthe knuckle,and a conduit carried by the knuckle supplied by said boreand leading toa knuckle bearing.

iso

8. In a motor vehicle, in combination, an axle, a king pin extendingthrough an eye thereof and pinned thereinto, a knuckle having clevisjaws with bushings therein about the ends of t-he king pin, a thrustbearing in'- terposed between the vlower clevis jaw and thecorresponding surface of the axle c ve. said thrust bearing including abearing plate keyed to the knuckle and a bearing block coactingtherewith and keyed to the axle, a lubricant inletfitting secured insaid bearing block and delivering into a bore longitudinally of andextending through the top of the king pin, and a pipe in Howintercepting relationship with the upper bushing of the king pin andextending generally-downward along the structure of the knuckle to abearing thereof."

9. In a steering axle of the type including a beam, a knuckle coactingwith the end thereof, one of said members having a clevis i straddlingthe other, a king pin rigid with the straddled member and affording abearing surface'at the ends thereof for the knuckle member, the clevisjawsbeing spaced by a distance materially greater than the interposedlength ofthe straddled member to afford-room for a thrust bearing; thecombination therewith of a thrust bearing including a plate rigid .withthe knuckle, a block rigid with the axle, the upper of said plate andblock having an annular lip encircling the lower to render theconstruction substantially dust-tight, a lubricant inlet fitting affixedin the lateral face of said block, a passageway in structure rigid withYsaid axle terminating near the. upper end of the knuckle and a conduitcarried by the knuckle leading to one of the bearings thereof, and iniow intercepting relationship with the upper end of said passageway, avertical bore through said block, and a conduit rigid with said knuckledraining lubricant from said bore and leading to one of the bearingscarried thereby. f

lO. In a motor vehicle, in combination, a knuckle, an axle, one of saidmembers having a clevis straddling the other, and a king pin providing apivot mount for said knuckle, a thrust bearing blockinterposed betweenthe lower clevis jaw and the straddled member, a plug closing the lowerend of said clevis jaw to prevent loss of lubricant therefrom,

a lubricant inlet in said block, a duct in said block extending acrossthe thrust bearing surface. a longitudinal bore through said clevis jawsupplied from said duct, a port delivering from said bore to the lowerking pin bearing, a, iitting communicating later- 4ally with said boreat a part substantially y above the lower end of said king pin and apipe connecting said fitting with one of vthe bearings of the knuckle.

11. In a motor vehicle, in combination, an axle, a king pin fixed in theend thereof, a knuckle having va clevis bearing about the ,the axle,said thrust bearing including a block keyed to the axle, said knucklehaving rigid therewith a pair of bearings, means forvsupplying lubricantto said bearings. comprising inlet means affixed in the lateral face ofthe bearing block, va passage through said block and longitudinallythrough the king pin for delivering lubricant through the upper end ofthe latter, a lubricant-intercepting pipe carried by the knuckle anddelivering lubricant from ythe king pin downward by gravity iiow to oneof'the bearings, a passage supplied from said lubricant inlet meansextending downward along the knuckle to deliver to the other bearing,and check valve means to prevent return How of lubricant from theupwardlyy extending king pin bore, thereby precluding the draining tothe lower bearing of lubricant intended for the upper bearing. I

12. Ina motor vehicle, in combination, an axle beam, a king pin rigidtherewith', a knuckle having a clevis bearing on the ends of said kingpin, said knuckle having a drag link and a tie rod bearing rigidtherewith', a thrust bearing interposed between the lowerv clevisjaw andthe axle. said thrust bearing comprising a plate rigid with the knuckle,

a coacting block rigid with the axle, a lubricant inlet fitting carriedby said block and delivering into a radial bore through said. block inturn communicating with a correspending radial bore in said king pin, agasket-at the joint between said bores, an axial bore'in said king pinextending upward from the radial bore thereof, a lubricant pipe carriedby the knuckle and in flow` intercepting. relation with lubricantthrough said king pin, said pipe extending along structure of saidknuckle to the drag link bearing, a second bore through said thrustblocky delivering to the bearing surface thereof, an annular groove inthe bearing face of the thrust bearing, a draining passage thereforextending along the structure of said knuckle to deliver to the tie -rodbearing, and means controlling the distribution of lubricant from saidinlet between said king pin bore and said 1115 draining passage.

13,. In a motor vehicle, in combination, an axle, a'steering knucklehaving a pivot mount thereon and including bearings rigid therewith,means for lubricating said bearings from a single source, said meanscornprising an inlet fitting rigid with the axle and below the upperpartof the knuckle pivot thereof, passageways supplied from said inletfitting, one extending upward through structure fixed with respect tothe axle, a conduit system onY the knuckle intercepting lubricant fromsaid passageway and delivering it to one of the bearings, a secondpassageway supplied from said inlet fitting and extending generallydownward therefrom and a restriction pin near the inlet to said secondpassageway to restrict the flow of lubricant therethrough said firstpassageway being substantially open from end to end. A

'14. Thecombination set forth in claim 13 in which a spring-seated checkvalve prevents the draining of the upwardly extending passageway.

15. In a motor vehicle, in combination, an axle, a king pin rigidtherewith, a knuckle having a clevis straddling said axle and bearing onsaid king pin, a thrust bearing interposed between the lower clevis jawand the axle, said thrust bearing including a disk" keyed with respectto the clevis and a block keyed with respect to the axle, a lubricantinlet fitting affixed in said block communicating with a radial passagethrough said block in turn communicating with an axial passage in saidking pin extending upward therefrom, a pipe carried by said knuckle, anddraining lubricant delivered through the upper end of the king pin toone of the bearings of the knuckle, said thrust block having a lateralpassage supplied from theradial passage,'a drain passage through saidthrust block, means at the bearing face of said thrust'bearingintercepti'ng lubricant from said drain passage, and a conduit along thestructure of the knuckle supplied from said means and leading to theother knuckle bearmg.

16. The, combination setforth in claim 15 inwhich a restriction pin inthe lateral passage controls the distribution of the lubricant betweenthe two bearings and in which a springseated relief valve in the kingpin prevents the draining of the axial passage r through the latter.

17. In a motor vehicle, in combination, an

- axle, a steering knuckle pivoted thereto, a

' thrust bearing vsustaining the axle. on vthe knuckle and spacing saidmembers apart, -and a lubricant inlet fitting fixed with respect to theaxle and between the planes defining the thickness of the thrust bearingmember, and a conduit system carried by said knuckle and in flowlntercepting relationship vwith re-' spect to lubricant from said inletfitting and leading to one or more ofthe knuckle bearmeans lclosing thelower bearing of the king ings. Y

18. In a motor vehicle, in combination, an axle, a king pin fixedtherein, a knuckle having a clevis with jaws straddling said axle andbearing about the ends of said king pin,

substantially above the lower end of said king pin, and connected withone of the bearings of the knuckle. l

19, In a motor vehicle in combination, an axle, a steer-ing lknucklepivoted thereto, a

lubricant inlet member, a sustaining element for the .latter disposedadjacent the knuckle pivoted axisand lodged in'a space between `theknuckle and the axle and held against movement relative to the latter. v

20. In a steering axle ofthe type including an axlebeam, a king lpinextending through an eye thereof, a knuckle having clevis jaws bearingon the protruding ends of the king pin, a thrust bearing interposedbetween the lower clevis jaw and the corresponding surface of the axleeye, said thrust bearing in cluding a bearing plate having a hollow pinkeying the latter to the knuckle clevis therebelow, means substantiallyfixed with respect ,to the axle for admitting lubricant to the thrustbearing and means draininglubricant from said thrust bearing throughsaid holpin to prevent loss of lubricant therefrom, a'

longitudinal boresbstantially through the"v length ofthe lower clevisjaw and parallel to the king pin and closed at its lower end, a

, port delivering from said bore to theXlower,v king pin bearing, and aconduit communicat- 5 ing laterally with said bore at a partl thereoflos

